Rocking assembly



United States Patent 3,428,972 ROCKING ASSEMBLY Grover L. Cauthron, 2001 Crown Ave., West Sacramento, Calif. 95691 Filed Sept. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 582,452 US. Cl. -109 Int. Cl. A47d 9/02 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a rocking assembly of the type which is used with a bed and is more particularly concerned with an inexpensive device which is preferably secured to a preexisting bed or crib frame.

It is known in the prior art to use a longitudinally oscillating bed for persons having respiratory disorders in order to provide assistance in breathing. According to one theory, the rocking action alternately imposes the weight of internal organs against the diaphragm and then removes this weight by means of the change in the inclination of the body. In this way the diaphragm is actuated in a manner which imposes a collapsing and expanding action on the lungs to provide breathing assistance.

It has been the inventors experience that small children suffering from respiratory disorders may require one of the parents carrying the child during the night so that the child could breathe. Although parents are quite willing to make such sacrifices, it will be readily apparent that the adults will become fatigued from loss of sleep and from additional exertion. In a somewhat different manner the child suffers from such an arrangement because of the random movement of the parent which is less advantageous than the systematic movement of the rocking assembly of the instant invention.

Although there are prior art devices which accomplish generally the same result as the device of the instant invention, certain disadvantages have been found. For example, the prior art devices appear to be unduly complex and expensive and normally expose the driving mechanism thereby making it possible for a child to injure himself. Another disadvantage of the known prior art devices is that a complete oscillating bed is provided thereby necessitating undue capital outlay when the parents already own a conventional bed or crib.

In brief terms, the device of the instant invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing an enclosed receptacle housing the drive means and providing a pivotally mounted mattress board thereon and further including means on the receptacle for securing the assembly centrally of a preexisting bed frame. It will accordingly be seen that the rocking assembly of the instant invention may be positioned in a preexisting bed or crib frame thereby minimizing capital expenditures on the part of the parents. In one model of the instant invention, the device was made of plywood and other olf-the-shelf components having a total material cost of less than twenty dollars.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a rocking assembly which may be selectively secured to a preexisting bed or crib frame.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a rocking assembly of the character described in which 3,428,972 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 ICC the driving components of the device are enclosed in a receptacle thereby precluding injury to curious individuals.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a rocking assembly of the character described in which the necessary. rotatable shafts are journaled in components of the receptacle thereby minimizing costs.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the rocking assembly of the instant invention illustrated as secured to a conventional crib frame shown in dashed lines;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the rocking assembly and crib frame of FIGURE 1 taken substantially along line 2-2 thereof as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 4 is another vertical cross-sectional view of the rocking assembly of FIGURES 1 and 2 taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, a conventional crib frame is designated generally at 10 and is comprised of a plurality of load supporting legs 12 interconnected by slats 14. Crib frame 10 also includes a pair of longitudinally extending rails 16 for normally supporting a mattress board and mattress in a conventional manner. The rocking assembly of the instant invention is illustrated generally at 18 and is used to provide longitudinal oscillation of a mattress board 20 on which the afflicted individual lies during sleep. It will be readily apparent that rocking assembly 18 is not a bed in the sense that it does not have a headboard, a footboard or side rails. It will be seen, however, that it may be used either in conjunction with a bed or crib frame or alone to provide a device on which the afilicted person may sleep.

Rocking assembly 18 includes a receptacle designated generally at 22 having a bottom wall 24, side walls 26, 28 and end walls 30, 32. An extension 34, 36 on each of end walls 30, 32 provides means for securing assembly 18 centrally of crib frame 10 and includes an elongate member forming notches 38, 40 for receiving rails 16 in load supporting relation. A pair of transversely spaced ears 42, 44 extend upwardly from side walls 26, 28 and include aligned apertures 46, 48 providing a transverse pivot axis for mattress board 20. A rod 50 extends between apertures 46, 48 and is received by a pair of flanges 52, 54 extending downwardly from mattress board 20 thereby providing for rotation of mattress board 20 about the axis of rod 50.

Spaced from flanges 52, 54 along the longitudinal axis of mattress board 20 is another pair of downwardly extending flanges 56, 58 receiving a rod 60 therebetween mounting a link 62 for pivotal movement about the axis of rod 60. A drive means shown generally at 64 sequentially raises and lowers pivoted link 62 thereby longitudinally oscillating mattress board 20 about the axis of rod 50.

Drive means 64 includes a conventional electric motor 66 secured to bottom wall 24 by a U-shaped bracket 68 and a plurality of frictional fasteners 70 of any conventional type, such as rivets, screws, bolts or the like.

Motor 66 includes a drive shaft 72 mounting a first pulley 74 thereon for rotation therewith. The motor 66 drives a pulley type speed reduction system which includes a first endless belt 76 surrounding the first pulley 74 and a second pulley 78 fixedly mounted on a power input shaft 80 for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of drive shaft 72. One end of shaft 80 is mounted for rotation by a bearing block 82 fixedly secured to side wall 26 as shown best in FIGURES 2 and 4. The other end of shaft 80 is received in a bearing block 84 slidably mounted by a bearing block assembly shown generally at 86 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

A third pulley 88 is fixedly mounted on shaft 80 and spaced from second pulley 78 by a spacing wheel 90 for transmitting the rotation of shaft 78 to a fourth pulley 92 by the use of a second endless belt 94. Fourth pulley 92 and a fifth pulley 96 are fixedly mounted on a shaft 98 and spaced apart by a spacing wheel 100 in much the same manner that shaft 80, second pulley 78 and third pulley 88 are related. Shaft 98 is mounted for rotation at one end thereof in a fixed bearing block 102 secured to side wall 26 and at the other end by a bearing block 104 mounted for movement in assembly 86.

The rotation of fifth pulley 96 is transmitted by a third endless belt 106 to a sixth pulley 108 fixedly mounted on a power output or takeoff shaft 110. A vertical Wall 112 receives shaft 110 for rotation with a right angled vertical wall 114 providing for the rigidity of bearing wall 112. Stabilizer wheels 107 and 109 are mounted on shaft 110 on opposite sides of pulley 108 and wall 112. The other end of shaft 110 is mounted in a bearing block 116 supported by bearing block assembly 86. Mounted adjacent the free end of shaft 110 is an off-center means designated generally at 118 comprised of a crank wheel 120 centrally mounted on shaft 110 for rotation about the axis thereof. A pin 122 is fixedly secured to crank wheel 112 adjacent the circumeference thereof and is rotatably received in an aperture formed in the lower end of link 62. It will be readily apparent that the driving of motor 66 will result in the rotation of crank wheel 120' at a reduced rotary speed to raise and lower pin 122 in a systematic manner. Because of the pivoted nature of link 62, it will be readily seen that the rotary movement of crank wheel 120 effects the oscillation of mattress board 20 about the axis of rod 50.

Bearing blocks 84, 104, 116 are held in assembly 86 which is comprised of an upper and lower rail 124, 126 spaced apart a sufficient distance to closely receive the upper and lower ends of bearing blocks 84, 104, 116. Facing plates 128, 130 are secured to rails 124, 126 and extend inwardly toward the axis of shafts 80, 98, 110 to preclude outward movement of bearing blocks 84, 104, 116. Tension springs 132, 134, 136 are respectively connected to hearing blocks 84, 104, 116 and urge the hearing blocks to the left as shown in FIGURE 2. The coaction of stationary shaft supports 82, 102, 112 with biased slidable supports 84, 104, 116 acts to align shafts 80, 98, 110 and thereby insure a driving connection between motor 66 and crank wheel 120.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved rocking assembly which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A rocking assembly for inducing sleep and promoting respiration comprising:

an elongated receptacle having a normally horizontal rod extending transversely thereof intermediate its ends;

an elongated mattress board mounted intermediate its ends on said rod for oscillatory movement in a normally vertical plane;

a link having an end pivotally mounted on the mattress board adjacent one end thereof and at a point on its longitudinal axis spaced from said rod;

drive means disposed in the receptacle and comprising:

motor means having a drive shaft and a first pulley fixedly mounted thereon for rotation therewith;

a speed reduction pulley system including a power input shaft having a fixedly connected second pulley thereon aligned with said first pulley, a first endless belt connecting said second pulley in driven relationship relative to said first pulley, a third pulley mounted on said power input shaft for rotation therewith, a power output shaft extending parallel to said power input shaft, a fourth pulley secured on said power output shaft for rotation therewith, said third and fourth pulleys being aligned, a second endless belt connecting said third and fourth pulleys to connect said power output shaft in driven relationship relative to said power input shaft, first bearing means fixedly connected on one of the opposed sides of said receptacle and journalling the other adjacent ends of said power input and output shafts for rotation therein, second bearing means slidably mounted on the other side of said receptacle and journalling the other adjacent ends of said power input and output shafts for rotation therein, means constantly biasing said first and second bearing means for movement in a direction away from said motor means to maintain said alignment between said aligned pulleys and to insure a driving connection therebetween;

a wheel fixedly mounted on said power output shaft and a pin projecting laterally from a side of said wheel in off-center relationship relative thereto;

the other end of said link being pivotally connected on said pin whereby operation of said motor means drives said link to effect said oscillatory movement of said mattress board; and

means on the receptacle for securing the assembly centrally of a preexisting bed frame.

2. The rocking assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing means includes at least one extension on each side of the receptacle having an end configured to engage the bed frame in load supporting relation.

3. The rocking assembly of claim 2 wherein the extension end includes a downwardly facing shoulder for engaging a longitudinal bed rail.

4. The rocking assembly of claim 2 wherein the extension end includes a notch forming upwardly and downwardly facing shoulders for engaging a longitudinal bed rail.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,311,542 2/ 1943 Holme 5109 X 2,543,043 2/ 1951 Militello 5-104 X 2,869,145 1/ 1959 Gregory 5-109 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Clv X.R. 

